Date-night Korean BBQ with no smoke smell near Baekseok Station

My girlfriend and I had been wandering around all day. After walking that much, we started craving meat. So we ended up at this Baekseok restaurant as our last stop — a Korean BBQ spot that grills marinated pork for you and brings it out already done.

Location — a short walk from Baekseok Station Exit 6

It's at 1F, 54-12 Gangsong-ro 73beon-gil. You can walk there from Baekseok Station Exit 6. The blue sign stands out even at night. There's a line on the wall that reads something like "Have you lost your way to meat?" — I laughed when I saw it.

Menu — prices are posted at the entrance

There's a signboard standing right at the entrance. Marinated pork is ₩18,000 for 250g, and fresh pork belly is ₩17,000 for 180g. Marinated beef short rib is ₩25,000 for 250g. Yukhoe and a lunch menu are also listed. We went with the signature dish.

The dining room — no smoke at all

It was Saturday evening, but there was no wait. Since the meat is grilled in the kitchen, there's no smoke at the table at all. I didn't have to worry about my clothes smelling like smoke afterward — that was the most welcome part of any Korean BBQ place I've been to. Being open until 1am was a nice bonus too.

The kitchen — everything gets grilled back here

Inside the kitchen, a cylindrical grill spins around. Underneath sits a bed of red-hot charcoal. Staff grill everything back there and bring it out to you. At this Baekseok restaurant, you never have to pick up a pair of tongs.

Side dishes — good for wrapping

The side dishes come out first.

There's fresh kimchi and pickled myeong-i (mountain garlic leaves). Lettuce and green chili peppers come along too. There are plenty of things to wrap your meat in.

Seasoned green onion and perilla leaf come out too — meant to be piled on top of the meat.

Yukhoe (beef tartare) came out alongside everything else. You pour the egg yolk over it and mix it in. Shredded radish and sprouts sit underneath. It was cold, so it was nice to eat first.

Steamed egg and corn cheese also came together. The top of the corn cheese was torched. The steamed egg comes out still bubbling in its stone pot.

The meat — served already grilled

The meat comes out fully grilled. Onion, mushroom, and cheongyang pepper are piled on top. We dug in right away while it was still piping hot.

They keep a candle lit under the plate the whole time. Warmth stays on the plate throughout the meal. Even the pieces we picked up later hadn't gone cold.

The marinade was evenly soaked in. The seasoning was just right.

The meat was tender. It had a real charred, smoky flavor. Even dipped in ssamjang, it wasn't too salty.

We piled meat, garlic, and fresh kimchi onto lettuce. It's a perfect one-bite size.

It's also good just piled on a spoon. Wrapped in perilla leaf pickle, it's a whole different flavor.

We even added green onion and garlic on top. Everything fits on one spoonful. Kimchi jjigae comes as part of the set too, and it's exactly the flavor you need to cut through the richness.

The finish — bingsu at the end

Since all we had to do was eat — no grilling required — we kept talking the whole time. I'd never had a Baekseok restaurant experience quite like this. Once we finished eating, bingsu (shaved ice dessert) came out, topped with corn flakes and red beans.

We thought we were full, but it kept going down as a palate cleanser. It'd be an even more welcome finish in summer.

Today's verdict — who should go, and my honest take

If you're looking for a good Korean BBQ restaurant near Baekseok, I'd recommend Baekseok Kkogijip. We never touched a pair of tongs, and our clothes never picked up any smell. It's great for couples or friends who want to talk while they eat, and it'd work just as well for a group dinner. Just remember it's closed on Tuesdays.